Selling machines for scrap metal
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Outer Space
Posts: 9,319
Selling machines for scrap metal
I see lots of folks doing this or hear stories of vintage machines being sold for scrap and was wondering just how much scrappers get for a machine? I understand the price of scrap varies upon your area and the general price for that week/day but are we talking $1 or $15?? or more based on the weight ?
I know I offered $30 to a scrapper for a 15 in a trapezoid case and he jumped on it, so I imagine it's much less than that but I've always wondered.
I know I offered $30 to a scrapper for a 15 in a trapezoid case and he jumped on it, so I imagine it's much less than that but I've always wondered.
#2
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
Never scrapped any SM's but I scrapped an old truck and miscellaneous junk. I got 13 cents a pound for the truck 3-4 years ago and 10 cents for some odds and ends around the yard about 6 months ago. So a 30lb head would be around $3. Aluminum and copper would be quite a bit more.
Jon
Jon
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 911
at todays scrap price, $3 a machine head would be about right. two years ago that same machine might have been 9 to 10 $$
I know of two case that machine went to scrap, both where done just to clean up that property.
I see items laying in scrap yards, that I know had the PO put add in C/L they could have gotten 100's of $$ for.
I know of two case that machine went to scrap, both where done just to clean up that property.
I see items laying in scrap yards, that I know had the PO put add in C/L they could have gotten 100's of $$ for.
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Millville, NJ
Posts: 1,835
You can also call the local scrap yard for a quote on #1 steel if the scrapper insists the price is much higher. I'd think $10 for a head going to the yard would be more than enough. Hmmm, maybe I should hang out at Cumberland Recycling and buy up some SM's and antique junk on the way in.
Jon
Jon
#5
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I really do think a in with the recycle yard is a smart idea. "I'll pay double the scrap value etc." may earn a few phone calls. It's sad that $3 a head is probably near the going rate. That makes me so sad.
#6
#7
Candace it's not much. Since I scrape the bottom of the barrel, I do end up with s..crap sometimes. I have scrapped machines. 3.00 would be for a heavy all metal beast...a Kenmore or maybe a Singer 15? Most won't even bring that. The ones I scrapped were half plastic types so didn't have the weight. They were stripped for parts and then scrapped. I can't imagine anyone scrapping machines to get rich lol!
I kinda thing the Hospice thrift in town might be scrapping them. I'm sure they are donated often, but I don't see them hitting the floor. I suspect they are tossing anything they feel isn't good enough.
I kinda thing the Hospice thrift in town might be scrapping them. I'm sure they are donated often, but I don't see them hitting the floor. I suspect they are tossing anything they feel isn't good enough.
#8
$3 a machine is about what we got - they do pay a bit more than some of the other junk metal, but not much. These were stripped and what was left wasn't worth keeping around.
BTW - since I have to pay by the pound to take them to the dump (no pickup here) I'd rather get paid to haul them to the scrap yard.
BTW - since I have to pay by the pound to take them to the dump (no pickup here) I'd rather get paid to haul them to the scrap yard.
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
Do they have Sutter hospice thrift shops in your area? The ones around here have little bursts of machines - they'll have none for ages, then suddenly five or six will show up. I asked about it, and what they said is that they set all their donated sewing machines to the side and they have a specific volunteer that comes around once every 2-3 months and tests and evaluates the machines before they're put out. (I don't think they really thoroughly test the machines though, I think it's probably more like just plug it in and see if things move and make sure nothing bursts into flame.)
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